Mechanisms of mania

One of the many deficiencies in the educational curricula of Aotearoa — New Zealand schools is the near non-existence of citizen and civics education. Coupled with a history curriculum that has evolved from a complete whitewash of fabricated ‘facts’ to a smorgasbord of often conflicting ‘facts’, it’s no wonder that most tangata tiriti, and even many tangata whenua, finish their formal schooling practically clueless about how they came to be here, how to live harmoniously here, and their most basic rights and responsibilities.

Wha¯nau, hapu¯ and iwi Ma¯ori have consistently taught our tamariki mokopuna the fundamental tikanga (principles, starting with mana and tapu¯) that explain and enhance these important aspects of life here.

Since colonial times, a number of external mechanisms have undermined mana and violated tapu¯. However, a growing number of external mechanisms uphold and protect those fundamental principles. One of those is the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This week, two of its members are visiting to help us and our Tiriti partner develop a national plan of action to implement UNDRIP.

Laila Vars (Sami) and Edtami Mansayagan (Philippines) are being hosted by the Independent Monitoring Mechanism of the National Iwi Chairs’ Forum and the Human Rights Commission. Yesterday’s po¯whiri, at Waipapa Marae, at the University of Auckland, was followed by briefings from Ahorangi Margaret Mutu (Te Tiriti context), Dr Claire Charters (constitutional and legal context), Professor Papaarangi Reid (health issues), Professor Tracey McIntosh (justice; social and economic issues), Dr Dan Hikuroa (environmental issues), and Chrissie Cowan (Wha¯nau Whaikaha — Ma¯ori with disabilities, human rights issues and prior work done on national action plans for human rights).

Today they are at Ho¯ani Waititi Marae, in West Auckland. Tomorrow they’re in Wellington, meeting with government ministers and departments. On Friday they will be at Pipitea Marae in Wellington, then on Saturday they will wrap up their visit.

Several members of the IMM are accompanying them to ensure their visit sits within Te Tiriti partnership framework that the government has agreed to. On completion of their visit, they will write a report with recommendations on how to progress the implementation of the UNDRIP.

Back to the inadequate citizen and civic education taught here. That is slowly changing, thanks to individuals and organisations like Julia Caulfield and CIVX EDUCATION, who are doing their best to fill the void left by governments and their ministries. In the meantime, wha¯nau hapu¯ and iwi will continue to declare and teach our tamariki mokopuna the mechanisms of mana (tikanga) that allow tangata whenua and tangata tiriti to co-exist harmoniously in this country.

"Since colonial times, a number of external mechanisms have undermined mana and violated tapu¯ . However, a growing number of external mechanisms uphold and protect those fundamental principles. "